Utah State Univ: Bomb squad destroys suspicious device before first TPUSA event since Charlie Kirk’s assassination; building now safe

A suspicious device was detonated by law enforcement at Utah State University on Tuesday afternoon, ahead of the first Turning Point USA event in the state since the assassination of the organisation's founder, Charlie Kirk.

The university had already implemented additional security measures amid heightened concerns. According to a statement from Utah State University, the suspicious device was located near the exterior of Old Main, a building on campus.

Although deemed to be nonexplosive, the device was detonated by the bomb squad. A video obtained by Fox News captured someone shouting "fire in the hole" before a loud explosion was heard.


"A suspicious device was found near the exterior of Old Main. University and local law enforcement were dispatched to the scene. A device was located and deemed to be a nonexplosive device. Out of an abundance of caution, the bomb squad detonated the suspicious device. Old Main building is now clear and safe. All scheduled events may resume as normal," the university statement read.

Utah State University's Executive Director of Public Safety, Ellis Bruch, told Fox News that an employee observed an individual placing the device under a tree near Old Main and deemed it suspicious.

He said that a K-9 unit provided a "bit of an indication" on the device, prompting a response by the bomb squad. Bruch confirmed that no one was injured as a result of the incident.

The Turning Point USA chapter at Utah State University was set to host Alex Clark; Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah; Governor Spencer Cox; Representative Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.; and former Congressman Jason Chaffetz on Tuesday night.

This was the first TPUSA event in the state since Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. Suspected assassin Tyler Robinson was charged with aggravated murder, two counts of obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of witness tampering, and commission of a violent offence in the presence of a child.